Come on, he not only dumped the Cavs and his hometown, but he did it in the tasteless possible way. I've got no problem with him going to Miami (although everything said about tarnishing his legacy is true), but to go on national TV to just announce he was leaving Cleveland...

He deserves all the hate he's gonna get. His first game back in Ohio is gonna be interesting...

One thing's for certain, Miamia has had the best offseason any franchise ever had in the NBA. But, at the same time, everybody will be rooting against them, precisely because of Lebron.

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

that is the most childish and inappropriate letter. he should be ashamed of himself for crying like a little baby.

disloyal?cowardly betryal?

REALLY??? What exactly did he owe you Mr Gilbert? He played out his contract and earned the right to seek the employer of his choice. You lost. Get over it. To blast a guy like that is such a cheap shot that certainly will make other players take pause before playing for him.

bada wrote:that is the most childish and inappropriate letter. he should be ashamed of himself for crying like a little baby.

disloyal?cowardly betryal?

REALLY??? What exactly did he owe you Mr Gilbert? He played out his contract and earned the right to seek the employer of his choice. You lost. Get over it. To blast a guy like that is such a cheap shot that certainly will make other players take pause before playing for him.

Although I completely agree with you (the letter is inappropriate for an owner to say...prolly will be heavily fined), i think TMC hit it in the Nail. Cleveland Fans will probably appreciate Gilbert's reaction.

In addition to the open letter, there is an AP article that heavily quotes Gilbert... he is quoted, "People have covered up for [James] for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."- Gilbert... He also talks about LeBron quitting constantly during the playoffs. Man, this is some good drama.

Yeah and that Spears guy was on KNBR talking to F.P. this evening and he was saying that there were things about LeBron that he couldn't even repeat on the radio. He sounded pretty disgusted. The only thing that Spears would say was that LeBron or somebody in his entourage had more or less given the Cavaliers a guarantee. But he also hinted that this particular tidbit was only the tip of the iceberg.

I can't say that I am impressed by LeBron, but I am also not disappointed because I never liked him before and I always got the impression that he was like this. He has always seemed like a me-first kind of guy, both on the court and off. All of this shameless self-promotion has only made me hate him more.

Should be fun to root against the Heat, and I still don't think they can beat the Lakers.

wow. the OWNER actually wrote that? I don't know if I can believe that... I think it might have been forged or something. that's some childish ass **** if it's true...

and man, I'm so happy I'm not in Cleveland. shitty weather, cursed teams... at least the weather is nice in Oakland lol. Maybe they'll blow the team up and we can get a trade partner for andris?

Oh and go LeBron... get that paper son!

who gives a **** what anyone thinks, it's his choice and it's not like he's riding someones coat-tails or something... the guy lives up to the hype, plain and simple. if he wants to win a championship and he's a free agent, he has the right to do that. they had seven years to win it all in Cleve...

... I'm just happy there's a team that can finally hand it to the lakers.

I was listening to KHTK 1140 and whoever the host was hit it it on the nail. He basically said what TMC said... to go on national television, babble for an hour only to at the end of the hour... say he's leaving Cleveland. Was it really necessary to go on ESPN and do that? Was it really necessary for both ESPN and LeBron to turn this into a reality show? It's like watching someone get slapped in the face on national television.

NO ONE cares where LeBron goes. They just wanna know. They don't need LeBron rambling on for an hour keeping people waiting. Just say it. If you're leaving Cleveland, do it. If you're not, then don't. Don't make this into some type of reality show. No one found it entertaining.

LeJoke can't be good for the NBA, but as long as Stern manipulates his toy franchises and refs for better ratings, we will have a lot of future broke NBAers like Sprew, AI wondering were it all went wrong. As much as I dislike the Fakers Kobe, the guy took it to heart when Shaq won a Kobeless title ... worked harder, got the Gasoft (most one sided and manipulated trade in NBA history) Stern approved gift, and became a better team-mate. So far the King has shown little more than to be Le-Choke, Le-Joke, Le-Benedict ... Miami better be Wade's team or Le-Chump will take another early exit in the playoffs. Sure the Fakers have a loaded roster, but a fortunate Perkins injury in game 6 and 40 4th quarter foul call in game 7 ... sure put them over the top. The NBA does not have a King, but we sure have a Queen of Heartless (off with his head ..sorry Mike Brown, sorry Danny Ferry, sorry Mo Williams) and until he can show (a Kobe-like game 7 meltdown ...he, he) actual win a championship with Stern corrupt refs in cohoots ... haters should refer to the player formerly known as the King as Le-Chump.